Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati on Monday constituted a committee of experts for considering the issues arising out of COVID-19 and suggest alternatives in respect of the carriage of private TV channels on DD Free Dish for the period from 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2021.
Director of DD Free Dish conveyed his approval for the constitution of a committee of experts for considering the issues. The committee convened a meeting yesterday at 02:30 PM via video conferencing.
The committee constituted has 4 top-level Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan, and DD Free Dish officials. The committee comprises the following members:
- Sh. Sunil, ADG (Distribution), DG: Doordarshan
- Sh. Dinesh Mahur ADG (Admin), Prasar Bharati Secretariat
- Sh. Nandan Kumar, ADG (ER), Prasar Bharati Secretariat
- Sh. A.K. Jha, Deputy Director General (Distribution/Free Dish), DG: Doordarshan
53 channels had recently won MPEG-2 slots in the 44th DD Free Dish E-Auction. These channels are scheduled to go on air DD Free Dish from April 1. With restrictions around the country due to COVID-19 and offices working with reduced staff, Prasar Bharati has a huge task to uplink new channels that will be going on air from April 1. It has to simultaneously manage its huge network of Doordarshan channels as well.
An update on what transpired in the meeting is awaited. Prasar Bharati is yet to issue any other notification on the carriage of private TV channels on DD Free Dish for the period from 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2021.
